SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s 23-MW Ans-II Small Hydroelectric Project in Reasi, initiated nearly a decade ago, has remained stalled primarily for want of financial assistance from the Centre, with the government now planning to revise its DPR and examine the project jointly with the upstream Ans-I project.
The project was initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) during 2016-17 under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP-2015). Its Detailed Project Report was prepared in 2019 and received techno-economic clearance, but the tendering process launched for execution on EPC mode was cancelled in January 2022 after the required funding commitment from the Government of India was not forthcoming.
The Power Development Department disclosed the status in reply to a Question tabled by Reasi MLA Kuldeep Raj Dubey.
The original DPR estimated the cost of the 23-MW project at Rs 353.10 crore at 2018 price levels, while the question referred to a DPR estimate of Rs 365.87 crore. The government said J&K repeatedly approached the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) seeking 60 per cent financial assistance under PMDP-2015, but no such assistance has been released so far.
In November 2024, IIT Roorkee, engaged by MNRE, recommended a reduced-capacity 16-MW project at an estimated cost of Rs 366.67 crore at 2022 price levels for consideration of financial assistance under the applicable scheme.
Meanwhile, the government had initiated land acquisition proceedings in 2021 under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, along with a Social Impact Assessment. Several statutory and departmental no-objection certificates, including those relating to the Indus Water Treaty, geology, power, irrigation and pollution control, have also been obtained.
However, further action on the remaining statutory clearances, completion of land acquisition, Relief and Rehabilitation measures and retendering could not proceed in the absence of formal financial sanction and release of funds by MNRE.
A fresh attempt to revive the project was made by the JKSPDC Board of Directors at its 98th meeting held on June 23, 2026, when it decided that Ans-II would be developed through EPC mode.
JKSPDC is now examining Ans-II together with the upstream Ans-I project in cascade, with the stated objective of making optimal use of the available hydro potential.
As part of the process, JKSPDC has prepared a tender for engaging a consultant to prepare the DPR for Ans-I, comprising 20-MW Stage-I and 20-MW Stage-II, and to revise the DPR of Ans-II in accordance with the IIT-Roorkee assessment.
The government said the project is expected to generate clean and reliable power and create direct and indirect employment and livelihood opportunities, besides supporting allied infrastructure and industries in the remote and mountainous areas of Reasi.
It said the project would now be taken forward in a time-bound manner, subject to completion of the revised DPR, statutory clearances, land acquisition and R&R requirements, and availability of the necessary financial assistance and sanction.
The government attributed the prolonged delay primarily to the non-availability of financial assistance from the Government of India under PMDP-2015, saying that in the absence of the requisite funding commitment and release of assistance, the project could not be taken forward for execution.
